Deep Sea Embers

“Good day. What happened? You look like you ran all the way through the rain to get here.” He slowly came down the stairs and greeted the old scholar:

“Dun… Mr. Duncan,” Morris replied and took off his already-soaked hat, “I need your help… I don’t know how to explain this to you, and I don’t know if you’re willing to take action, but… I found that Ender Missionaries are operating in the city. They’re tampering with the history of Pland, and I…”

The older man stopped after getting stuck on finding the next word.

He seemed to realize how presumptuous his act of asking for help was and realized that asking for help from a subspatial being with an unclear position was in itself irrational.

Would Mr. Duncan help with this?

Why should he do this favor?

Did the survival of humanity and the survival of the city-state matter to him?

What threat do the Enders pose to him?

Morris just stood there in a stunned state until Duncan broke the air with a nod, “I know.”

The chaotic starlight, the broken mirrors, the giant of light and shadow with mortal skin just answered his query like it was nothing.

“You… know?” Morris was stunned but returned to his senses fast, “Ah, yes… Of course, you wouldn’t need me to tell you, I…”

The older man threw his hat to the side, raised his hand, and patted his head like someone that’s committed an idiotic mistake. Muttering: “I’ve really grown senile to think you wouldn’t detect the abnormality in the city. Then you must also know about Vanna…”

Duncan immediately frowned: “Vanna? The one who has a good relationship with Heidi? What happened to her?”

“Vanna, she… disappeared,” Morris was shocked when he got such a reply and took a second to process it. Then adding quickly: “I’m saying Heidi forgot Vanna’s existence, and no one else remembers her…”

Duncan became much more serious in his face: “Sit down and speak slowly. Alice, go prepare some hot tea for us…” Pausing there, the shopkeeper turned to the blonde and asked something weird, “Do you remember how?”

“Yes, Mr. Duncan.” Alice chirped with a tone of glee.

Morris watched from his spot as the elegant and mysterious blonde ran up to the second floor. In his view, Miss Alice’s movements were bizarre. Not in a bad way of course, but rather it’s too smooth and elegant, which was reminiscent of ancient nobles with excellent upbringings. Unfortunately, that’s something difficult to find in this modern age.

But his curiosity quickly gave way to the current state of affairs.

After sitting at the front counter, he immediately told the “shopkeeper” in front of him about the abnormality he had noticed and the obstacles he encountered along the way.

Duncan listened with a grim expression, only to speak after getting the full story: “Ender Missionaries… A bunch of troublesome guys indeed.”

“Yes, this group of lunatics who exiled themselves out of reality since ancient times often makes a return through the cracks in time. They are committed to destroying the continuity of history and threatening the stability of the real world… But they rarely have the opportunity to make such a big ruckus like this,” Morris said in a low voice. “Under normal circumstances, the protection of the gods will block the penetration of the Enders before they step through, and the Flame Bearers are constantly working to strengthen the historical ‘barrier’. Those madmen must have sought outside forces to help them if they managed to break through the blockade…”

“Your tea, old sir.” Alice came over and placed the hot tea on the counter.

“Thank you,” Morris hurriedly thanked her and reached over to receive the beverage. After being drenched by the storm, the old scholar needs something hot to warm his soul. However, the second he took a sip, he yelled and spat it back out.

Conversely, Duncan remained indifferent to the outburst: “Try to endure it. She’s at least managed to find out where the tea is. Although the amount she used is debatable.”

Morris turned his head in amazement at the mysterious lady, who was already wandering back over to the stairs daydreaming.

…… What is the origin of this mysterious lady?

Meanwhile, Duncan carefully took a tiny sip of his brew, confirming another detail he had just learned.

The transcendent beings of this world have discovered the “nonlinear” nature of the Enders and the countermeasures needed to fight that group. But now, it seems that these countermeasures are not always effective.

He closed his eyes slightly, allowing his perception to reach out and connect with the mark he left within Vanna’s body. It’s still flickering with life, a good sign.

Morris looked curiously at the shopkeeper, who was behaving oddly. “Mr. Duncan, you…”

“Don’t worry, Vanna is still alive,” Duncan widened his eyes again and showed a calm expression, “it’s just that… she’s currently existing outside of the normal Pland.”

“Can you confirm her location and status?” Morris’s eyes widened in amazement. He was actually mainly here to pass on the news of “historical pollution”, and the mention of Vanna’s situation was only in passing. After all, from his point of view, Duncan and the city-state inquisitor should have nothing to do with each other. To think this great being already had his sights on Vanna.

“I’m paying attention to her. She’s a good inquisitor,” Duncan didn’t explain anything and just nodded indifferently. Then without indication, he got up from behind the counter.

“What are you going to do?” Morris promptly followed and got up as well.

“I’m going to bring Vanna back and take a look over there.” Duncan strode towards the stairs and said without glancing back. But then he paused after remembering he still had a guest around. “Do you want to go upstairs and take a hot shower? My clothes are longer than yours, but they should still do the job.”

Take a bath in this subspace lair and change into the clothes of the evil god?!

Morris almost fainted at the idea. Even the four great achievements of scholars wouldn’t ever dare to imagine such a feat!

With tingling skin, Morris quickly shook his head: “No, no, no, no need, I’ll just wait here…”

“Then please take care of yourself.” Duncan nodded and walked upstairs to find Nina and Shirley eavesdropping at the edge.

The expression on Shirley’s face was a little uneasy as she greeted Duncan: “Mr. Duncan, is it… did something happen?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just now… we heard movement from the first floor,” Shirley rubbed her hands, lowering her head as if she had done something wrong. “Actually, it’s Dog who heard it, saying that the Enders had appeared again and polluted history or something. Someone named Vanna is missing? Sounds like a very important person…”

Nina also looked over with an uneasy look. She was obviously more confused than Shirley: “Uncle, what’s wrong?”

“…… Some small things,” Duncan looked at the two girls who had vaguely sensed the turmoil approaching and felt nervous. After a little hesitation, he attempts to soothe their unease, “You can rest in the house, and if you are bored, you can go to the first floor to chat with Mr. Morris. It’s okay, don’t worry.”

Shirley nodded, but Nina still looked worried as she grabbed Duncan’s sleeve: “Uncle, I think… I feel a little scared. Is it really all right? And you… What are you going to do?”

Duncan stopped and quietly stared into Nina’s eyes.

Just like he had noticed before, Nina’s senses were actually very sharp – she was not unaware of anything; she was just too sensible.

But now the situation was slightly beyond the boundaries of her “sensibleness”.

“Nina, your uncle here is actually a very powerful person,” Duncan suddenly laughed and reached out to press his hand on the top of the girl’s head, “but I can’t explain it to you yet… You stay with Shirley for a while, and when it’s over, I’ll tell you what’s going on.”

Just this level of reassurance still wasn’t enough to calm Nina’s unease. Nevertheless, as usual, the girl nodded obediently, just that her voice had grown softer: “Okay….”

After Nina and Shirley went downstairs following his instructions, Duncan collected his emotions and hurried back to his room, to which he summoned Ai. The bird had been munching on fries back on the Vanished.

“We’ve got to find someone,” Duncan said with a serious look when he saw the pigeon appear, “Serious and important business, double the ketchup when it’s done.”

Ai suddenly jumped on the spot with delight: “Loyalty is indescribable, loyalty is indescribable!”

Duncan exhaled slightly, letting his mind sink again to link up with the flickering mark he left on Vanna.

What happened to the female inquisitor was an accident for him, but it also brought unexpected gains. Like the flames he released in Shirley’s dream before!

Although he didn’t know how all this happened or why Vanna could get into contact with his ghost fire, one thing’s certain though – Vanna had arrived on the other side of the curtain.

And now, this powerful inquisitor, carrying Duncan’s “mark”, has become a passage for Duncan to intervene in that curtain world.

“Spirit Walk.”